Bears promote Meyer to offensive line coach

The Bears on Wednesday promoted Pat Meyer to offensive line coach, taking that title from offensive coordinator Aaron Kromer.

Meyer was the Bears' assistant offensive line coach last season, his first in the NFL. He worked closely with Kromer and was heavily involved in divising and coaching pass-protection schemes.

"The move will allow Aaron to still be closely connected to the instruction and development of the offensive line while expanding his coordinator duties and free up time to help in the growth of all of our offensive players," Bears coach Marc Trestman said in a statement.

The Bears last season, buoyed by four new starters on the offensive line and a new scheme, significantly improved protecting the quarterback.

Their ratio of sacks to pass attempts was only 5.2 percent, the fourth-best in the NFL. They surrendered 30 sacks, their lowest total since 2008.

In 2012, before Trestman, Kromer and Meyer arrived and the line was overhauled, the Bears gave up 44 sacks and had a sacks-to-passes ratio of 9.07 percent.